Australian politicians attack nine-year-old for not standing during anthem

Australian politicians attack nine-year-old for not standing during anthem

QUEENSLAND– A nine-year-old Australian girl who refused to stand during the national anthem out of respect for the nation’s Aboriginal population has been attacked by prominent politicians, who called for her to be kicked out of school.

Harper Nielsen, who lives in the state of Queensland, told CNN-affiliate Nine News she sat during the her country’s national anthem because she believed it was disrespectful to Indigenous Australians.

The anthem, titled “Advance Australia Fair,” contains the line “Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free.”

Queensland Liberal National politician Jarrod Bleijie, the state’s shadow minister for Education, said Nielsen was a “brat.”

“Shame on her parents for using her as a political pawn. Stop the silly protest and stand and sing proudly your National Anthem,” Bleijie said on his social media, adding that sitting during the anthem disrespected Australian veterans.

The politician said the nine-year-old should be suspended if she continued to sit during the anthem.